Page 28 of Wolf's Whistle
“Not exactly, but I have to talk to The Alpha.” Not as familiar with Armand as the others, Julien’s hands shook. He tended to keep his head down, do his work and go home. Julien was a nerd, His expertise was the nuts and bolts of manufacturing, power systems, and fabricators. When they made a prototype, it was Julien who had it tested and designed the machinery to put it into production, so he had to be detail oriented. He was lucky his Mate was of the same temperament.
“Alpha Bellaire?” Armand got on the phone.
“Richard knows, but I don’t need you and the Mates until the morning, say about nine. Richard needs his sleep.”
“He just accepted it all without a fuss?”
“I haven’t told him everything but yes, he’s accepted my wolf. He’s a scientist, he won’t deny what’s right in front of him.”
Armand sucked in a deep breath. “Have Isabel make breakfast for the morning. Make it at eight instead of nine, there is a lot to talk about.”
After calling Isabel, Julien rode the elevator back upstairs, whistling the whole way. He opened the bedroom door. Richard was sitting on his bed staring into space.
“Armand and the others will be here in the morning.”
Richard turned to Julien. “Did I tell you I love that you whistle? My dad used to whistle.”
“I’ve always been a whistler. My mother tried to break me of the habit to no avail. We can go to bed. Armand and the others will be here at eight. He’s very pleased you didn’t cost him a night’s sleep.”
Richard giggled. “I’m glad Armand is happy.”
Julien knelt in front of him. “Will you lay with me tonight and let me hold you, mon ange?”
“Yes, I’d like that.” Julien grabbed him by the hand and pulled him off the bed and into his arms.
“I want you so much, but we have to wait to mate until we can go to Redmond where my pack and the council can see my mating bite. We have to give the family a few days to prepare.”
“When?”
“Next Saturday, we’ll travel out to Redmond on Thursday and mate Thursday night. The others will follow. We’ll have the wedding ceremony on Saturday. It will take the full week to get ready. Can you wait for me that long?”
“I was drawn to you immediately. I wanted you as soon as I met you. When you took a stranger into your home, I found myself liking you too much. After you told that detective I was your fiancé, I knew I was in love. I argued with myself, and I told Julio that I was falling down a rabbit hole. I didn’t have any idea you’d be at the bottom to catch me.”
“I’ll always catch you, mon ange. I may not remember to feed you, but I’ll always catch you if you fall.”
Richard chuckled then let out a full-throated laugh.
“Let’s go downstairs and go to bed. Marcel will move you into our suite in the morning. We need to go to sleep. Breakfast is at eight. That means eight on the dot.”
Richard cocked his head. “Why do you need the others? You and Julio can tell me what I need to know.”
“There is a certain protocol observed on the loup garou council. I am seventh in line now that I’ve found you. Henri, once he finds his Mate will be eighth. There is a ritual that is observed, and the ritual brings the Mates and the new Mate together to bond. It also keeps the members of the council from issuing challenges, fights to the death, to better their position.”
Richard’s jaw dropped. Julien continued, “To a loup garou, their Mate is everything. I’m one hundred forty-nine years old, and I have been searching for you since I was twenty-five. A loup garou will do anything so as not to upset his Mate. If the council Mates are all friends, they would be horrified to see the council members challenge each other. The Mates will explain. They do it better than we do. Come to bed. You’ll have your answers in the morning, and Armand’s gratitude for not making him come over in the middle of the night.”
“Middle of the night?” Richard appeared very confused.
“The boys will tell you in the morning. Stay dressed in your night clothes but come lie in my arms.” Julien glanced at the clock. It was after midnight. “We have to get up in six hours. You’ve had a lot of excitement in two days, mon ange, you need your sleep. I’m happy just to hold you.” Julien kissed him on the forehead. “I love you and I always will.”
Chapter Seven
Julien’s Townhouse
Saturday, Eight in the Morning
Julien and Richard were ready to greet Armand, the council, and the Mates.
“I hope you don’t mind, I called Henri. Even though he’s not mated yet, I have a premonition that he will be soon,” Armand told Julien as he came in the vestibule.
